Tongue scraper adapted for engagement with a toothbrush

ABSTRACT

A dental hygiene device formed of a toothbrush component having an elongated handle and bristles extending from a first surface and a scraper component with a scraping edge positioned on a first side a body portion. The scraper component is employable in an as-used position to scrape the tongue surface of a user and engageable in a cavity in the toothbrush handle to a stored position. In the stored position, the scraping edge is positioned away from possible contact with the user&#39;s hand or storage surfaces which the device may occupy to prevent contamination by germs and bacteria.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/449,409 filed Mar. 4, 2011 which is incorporated herein in itsentirety by this reference. The present invention relates to oralhygiene implements. More particularly the disclosed device relates to atoothbrush and tongue scraper combination allowing the user to carry asingle instrument for multiple oral hygiene modes of use.

2. Prior Art

The importance of oral hygiene is conveyed to most people at a veryyoung age with brushing and flossing being the means to provide properoral care. Maintaining oral hygiene can save money by reducing dentaloffice visits as well providing self confidence in knowing that yourteeth are clean and your breath is fresh. Further, such care will tendto minimize tooth decay and physical problems and concurrently maintainreasonably fresh breath.

A common misconception, however, is that bad breath comes from dirtyteeth. Modernly, it has been generally established that bacteria whichlive on the surface of the tongue are the primary culprits which causeof bad breath. Bad breath for individuals as such, is a product of theodors and waste material deposited on the surface of the tongue whichare produced by bacteria which live on the surface of the tongue.

Thus, bad breath is best remedied by proper and regular cleaning of thetongue surface, which is best accomplished by scraping the top surfaceof the tongue. Such scraping is best performed with a dental instrumentadapted to the task.

Conventional tongue scrapers take the form similar to that of a commontooth brush but instead employ a rigid scraping means at the distal endopposed to brushing bristles. Such scrapers are sold widely in drugstores and the like and are generally hand employed by the user. Thishowever doubles the number of dental instruments users must store anduse.

To rectify the need to posses both a tongue scraper and tooth brush,efforts have been made in the past, to combine the two instruments in amanner that is convenient and easy to use. Often, a toothbrush withbrushing bristles at a distal end will position a tongue scraping meansat the other proximal end. However, this requires the user to palm boththe bristles of the brush, and the tongue scraping component during useof the other, which is less than appealing and sanitary. Other attemptsexist in prior art which have been proposed as to the construction anddesign of the tooth brushing means while concurrently accomplishing thetask of scraping bacteria and deposits from the surface of a tongue.

Although providing a convenient scraping means, the positioning of ascraping component at one exterior end of a toothbrush for dailyemployment, is generally unsanitary due to the user using their hands touse it, as well as its placement on bathroom surfaces. It is less thanan appealing task, to insert the exposed end of a toothbrush having ascraping component, which has been stored in a toothbrush holder, orlaying on a bathroom counter. Consequently devices with exposed scrapershave been less than successful. Furthermore, there is the constantproblem of cross-contamination because the user employs their hands overthe scraping end when handling the device as a toothbrush. Subsequently,they hold the brush end in their hand, to employ the end of the devicehaving the scraping means. As a result, bacteria and germs can betransferred to the brushing bristles from the tongue scraper side of theinstrument, which is again unsanitary and unappealing. Further, whenemployed subsequent to brushing, the user must grip the brush end of theinstrument which is then wet and undesireable, in addition to thecross-contamination that is certain to occur.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0248668A1 to Rosenblood et.al. teaches a toothbrush and tongue scrapper combination. Rosenblooddiscloses a toothbrush housing with a proximal and distal end withbrushing bristles at the proximal end. A flexible tongue scraper isengaged to the distal end inside or outside of the housing and can berolled up for storage within the housing. However, the flexible natureof the tongue scraper permitting a rolled up storage position does notseem to provide as effective of a scraping means as would a rigidcounterpart. Furthermore, the addition of a roll up mechanism seems toadd unnecessary complexity to a conventionally simple toothbrush design.It also seems that cleaning and maintaining cleanliness of such a tonguescraper would be more difficult then just having a separate tonguescraper on its own. Rosenblood also teaches a disposable embodimentwhere the used portion of the tongue scraper can be removed after use,yet further adding to the waste produced in our society. Other prior artin the field, teaches similarly flawed combination dental insturements.

As such, there is a continuing and unmet need for a toothbrush andtongue scraper combination which is easily manufactured and thereafteremployed by a user in a sanitary and appealing manner. Such a deviceshould provide a tongue scraper which is easily engageable as acomponent of an dental instrument such as conventional elongatedtoothbrushes, but shields both the scraper, and the user from the needto grip the brush end, or the scraper during use of the other respectivecomponent. In this combination, such a device should provide theconvenience of using a conventional toothbrush with the additionalconvenience of an engageable tooth scraper. In the combination, such adevice carried and stored as a single instrument should provide aconvenient and sanitary means to use, clean, and store a tongue scraper,and the toothbrush portion. Furthermore, the tongue scraper ortoothbrush combination should be simple in construction as well as beinexpensive to produce to thereby insure easy and inexpensivemanufacture and encourage widespread use through low cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device herein disclosed and described provides a tongue scraper thatachieves the above noted goals through the combination thereof with atoothbrush in a single hygienic instrument. A conventional toothbrushhead and body are employed and adapted to engage and house the tonguescraper portion.

The tongue scraper portion of the instrument generally consists of anelongated member having a proximal end and a distal end. At the proximalend is situated a scraping means such as a protruding body portion fromthe member forming the handle communicating between the proximal anddistal ends. The handle portion is generally of a cross sectionconfigured for cooperative engagement with the toothbrush handle and ofa flexible in nature so as to serve as a means to limit the amount ofpressure the user may impart to their tongue to prevent injury thereto.

In one particularly preferred mode, the tongue scraper is removably andslidably engaged within an internally formed cavity along thelongitudinal direction of the handle portion of a conventional styletoothbrush. The cavity is formed between the distal end of thetoothbrush handle, opposite the brushing bristles, and the proximal endengaged by the user's hand during brushing.

The cavity is configured to be cooperative with, and engage, the distalend and handle portion of the tongue scraper portion of the combinedinstrument while the protruding body defining the scraping means remainsexposed. The tongue scraper is thus formed for a cooperative removableengagement with the handle of the toothbrush by removable engagementmeans such as a tongue and groove, snap fit, sliding, or other means toposition the tongue scraper portion in a stored position, out of contactwith the user's hand while brushing, and bathroom surfaces while beingstored. The combined convenience of a dental instrument having both atongue scraper portion with toothbrush portion is achieved withoutsacrificing sanitation or functionality issues as previously described.

In another particularly preferred mode of the current combination dentalhygiene invention the tongue scraping component may be rotatably engagedat the distal end of its handle, to a position at or near the distal endof a conventional style toothbrush. This rotational engagement allowsthe scraping component to rotate out to an as-used position to beemployed for tongue scraping, and back into a cooperative removableengagement with the toothbrush handle, covered from contact with theuser's hand or bathroom or other surfaces during storage. Rotatableengagement is provided by a rotatable engagement means such as a swivel,hinge, flexible substrate, or a living hinge formed between thetoothbrush and tongue scraper handle, or the like.

When the scraper is rotated and thereby deployed to the as-usedposition, the user can grasp the handle portion of the scraper asopposed to handling it at or near the brushing bristles of thetoothbrush body itself as mentioned in prior art toothbrush/tonguescraper combinations. Alternatively, the tongue scraper portion canrotate to an engaged position on the back surface of the toothbrushhandle, enabling use of either.

The scraping component body defining the scraping means on the proximalend of the tongue scraper portion, employs a flat surface to scrape thetongue, and is positioned on the side adjacent to the back of thetoothbrush body to cooperatively engage therewith, to ensure flushengagement when in the stored position. A means to removably engage thescraper component, for temporary engagement when in the stored positionis achieved by a removable engagement means such as a snap fit, tongueand groove, or the like. This also allows for replacement of the scraperover time with new scraper components.

In yet another particularly preferred mode of the invention a flexiblesheath made of polymeric material such as plastic such as polyethyleneis used to house the tongue scraping component. The sheath employs aninternal cavity constructed to adaptively and slidably engage the distalend and handle portion of the tongue scraping component. The sheath hasat least one flat exterior surface that has an adhesive strip or othermeans to engage to a users existing toothbrush. This mode providessimilar attributes of use for the tongue scraping component to that ofthe first particularly mode described previously without having a usersacrifice their existing toothbrush.

With respect to the above description, before explaining at least onepreferred embodiment of the herein disclosed invention in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and to the arrangement of the components inthe following description or illustrated in the drawings. The inventionherein described is capable of other embodiments and of being practicedand carried out in various ways which will be obvious to those skilledin the art. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology andterminology employed herein are for the purpose of description andshould not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conceptionupon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basisfor designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying outthe several purposes of the present disclosed device. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstruction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from thespirit and scope of the present invention.

It is an object of the invention to provide a single dental hygieneinstrument having a combination toothbrush and tongue scraper in avariety of modes that is altogether easily used, sanitary, andconvenient.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a receiving cavity ina conventional style toothbrush that is constructed to slidably,rotatably, or otherwise removably engage the tongue scraping componentin a protected position with the toothbrush handle.

Another object of the invention is provide a sheath configured to attachto a toothbrush handle for a tongue scrapping component that can beengaged to an existing toothbrush.

Still an object of the invention is the provision of rotatableengagement of the tongue scraping component to a toothbrush.

These as well as other objects will become apparent in the followingdetailed explanation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a side view of one particularly preferred mode of thedevice with the tongue scraping component slidably engaged within arecess cavity in the handle portion of a toothbrush.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of the mode of thedevice in FIG. 1 with the tongue scraping component in the storedposition.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the mode of FIG. 1 with the tonguescraping component partially removed from the recess cavity of thetoothbrush.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of another particularly preferred mode of thedevice with the tongue scraping component rotatable engaged to thedistal end of a toothbrush and rotatable to a deployed position andengageable to the rear surface of the toothbrush handle.

FIG. 5 is a view of yet another particularly preferred mode of thedevice that employs a sheath with a receiving cavity for the tonguescraping component, also engageable to an existed toothbrush or otherflat surface.

FIG. 6 is an cross sectional view of the device of sheath of FIG. 5along line BB.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the sheath component.

FIG. 8 depicts another preferred mode of the device where the tonguescraper component is removably engageable into an elongated recessformed in the toothbrush handle and may be rotatably engaged as in FIG.4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Now referring to drawings in FIGS. 1-8, wherein similar components areidentified by like reference numerals, there is seen in FIG. 1, a sideview of one mode of the device 10 and in figures FIG. 2, and FIG. 3individual sectional side views of this preferred mode of the device 10.As depicted, the device 10 remedies the problems of conventionaltoothbrush and tongue scraper combinations which leave the tonguescraper component exposed to the environment, and/or the user's hands,wherein germs and other bacteria may accumulate and be transmitted suchthat a user may be deterred from any tongue cleaning regime.

The depicted tongue scraping component 12 of the present invention iscomprised of a tongue scraper portion 14 configured to scrape and cleanthe tongue surface, and shaft or body portion 16, which communicateswith a formed cavity 22, or in the case of the device of FIG. 8, a slot35 formed in a cooperative fashion in the toothbrush handle 18. Thecavity 22 in this mode of the device 10 is configured for a removableslidable engagement with the tongue scraping component 12 positionedtherein. An aperture 20 at the distal end of the handle of thetoothbrush 13, opposite the bristle end 19, communicates with the formedcavity 22 for operatively receiving the body portion 16 of the tonguescraping component 12 in a stored mode as depicted in FIG. 2.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, showing the cross sectional view along line AAfrom FIG. 1, the body portion 16 of the tongue scraping component 12 isengaged within the formed cavity 22 of the toothbrush handle 18 in thestored position cooperatively engaged therein in removable fashion. Thescraper portion 14 is positioned adjacent the distal end of thetoothbrush handle 18 and is shaped to seamlessly form with the handle orbody of the toothbrush 13. However in other modes the scrapper portion14 may be recessed further into the handle 18 of the toothbrush 13.

A frictional means to maintain the stored engagement of the tonguescraping component 12 within the cavity 22 is achieved by a snap fit orsimilar means of removably engagement as seen in the figures. Forinstance, on such snap fit is provided by a recess 26 at or near theopening 20 of the formed cavity 22 is constructed to cooperativelyengage with a similarly formed protrusion 24 on the tongue scrapingcomponent 12. Further, the exterior surfaces of the protrusion 24provides a means for opposed finger engagement with the scrapercomponent 12 wherein a user may simply grasp the protrusion 24 to removethe scraper 12 from the cavity 22 or to reinsert it for storage therein.

As is shown in FIG. 3 the scraper portion 14 of the scraper component12, includes a recess 15 such as to form a scraping edge 17 providingthe scraping means for abrasive dragging across the tongue. The edge 17providing an abrasive scraping means may be larger or smaller as neededto accommodate the protrusion 24 near the aperture 20 on the toothbrushhandle 18. Further, during use, the recess 15 will accumulate thescraped particles from the tongue until washed in running water therebypreventing bacteria from reaching contact with the users hands.

It must be noted that the form of the body portion 16 and scraper 14 ofthe tongue scraping component 12 and consequently the cavity 22, maytake on other shapes and dimensions other than that depicted in thefigures and achieve the cooperative engagement between the two whichstores the scraper 14 away from the users hands. Those skilled in theart will appreciate the simple nature of the depictions set forth inthis application as a simple means to portray the cooperative engagementbetween the two components forming the recessed storage of the scrapingcomponent 12, and should not be considered limiting in that fact.

Another particularly preferred mode of the device 10 is shown in FIG. 4.The distal end 31 of the tongue scraping component 12 is rotatablyengaged to the distal end 21 of the toothbrush handle 18 opposite thebristled end 19 by a rotatable engagement component 28 such as a hinge,swivel, or rotatable engagement means of the like. A slot 35 as in FIG.8 would provide the recessed cooperative engagement of the tonguescraping component 12 in the handle of the toothbrush 13. This rotatableengagement can also be employed with the device as shown in FIG. 8 ifreconfigured to place the scraper. The body portion 16 of the tonguescraping component 12 is shown in dotted line at “A” in FIG. 4, in onemode of the as-used position substantially inline with the toothbrush13. In this mode of the device 10, the tongue scraper portion 14 has thescrapping edge 17 and employs at least one flat surface 32 for anengagement to the backside of the toothbrush handle near the bristle end19 for a second as-used position opposite the bristles should the userwish to employ the device 10 with the scraping edge 17 in this positionand allow use by a simple rotation in the mouth.

A means for removable engagement between the tongue scraper portion 14and the toothbrush handle 13 may be employed such as a pin 31 whichfrictionally engages in an opening 33 in the handle 13 which may also beemployed with the device in FIG. 8 if it has a rotatable engagement ofthe tongue scraper portion 14 to the handle of the toothbrush 13.However, it must be noted that the toothbrush 13 as depicted in FIGS.1-3 may similarly employ the rotatable engagement mode as shown in thepresent figure and as such the flat surface 32 may alternatively becurved to contour the toothbrush 13 as shown in those figures.

The user may then rotate the scraping component 12 through theintermediate position B to the stored position C adjacently parallelwith the toothbrush 13. The scraping component 12 is then held in placeby a removable engagement means such as a snap fit, flange and slot, orthe like.

Yet another particularly preferred mode of the device 10 is shown inFIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7. This mode employs a plastic sheath 40component formed of a polymeric material such as a polyethylene plasticor the like. The sheath 40 is formed with a receiving cavity 42 toslidably communicate and removably engage the body portion 16 of thetongue scraping component 12. A removably engagement means such asrecess 26 like that seen previously in FIGS. 1-3 may also be employed asa removably engagement means to maintains the tongue scraper 12 withinthe cavity 42 of the sheath 40.

The sheath 40 is comprised of at least one flat surface 48 forengagement to a users existing toothbrush 13 or other flat surface suchas a mirror or counter top (not shown). As seen in FIG. 6 the flatsurface 48 may employ an adhesive strip 50 for engagement to thebackside of a users toothbrush or other flat surface such as a mirror ortable top. Further utility is found with this mode in that a user doesnot need to replace and discard an existing toothbrush.

FIG. 8, depicts another mode of the device 10 wherein the body portion16 of the tongue scraping component 12 is configured for cooperativeengagement in the slot 35 formed in the handle of the toothbrush 13. Thetongue scraper portion 14 has an edge 17 formed on the protrusion 24which is configured to be drawn across the user's tongue. When in thestored position, with the body portion 16 engaged within the slot 35,the edge 17 is protected from contact with the user's hands or bathroomsurfaces by abutment near or against the mating surface 41. Placing theprotrusion 24 between the user's fingers allows for easy removal andreplacement in the slot 35 without coming into contact with the edge 17which is employed for tongue contact. Thus in the stored position theedge 17 is protected from contact and cross contamination, and removaland replacement to the stored position do not necessitate user contactwith the edge 17.

While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of theinvention have been shown and described herein, with reference toparticular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, variouschanges and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure andit will be apparent that in some instances, some features of theinvention may be employed without a corresponding use of other featureswithout departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. Itshould also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, andvariations may be made by those skilled in the art without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all suchmodifications and variations and substitutions are included within thescope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

1. A dental hygiene apparatus, comprising: a toothbrush component havingan elongated handle extending between distal and proximal ends; bristlesextending from a first surface of said handle at said distal end, saidfirst surface opposite a second surface of said handle; a scrapercomponent, said scraper component having an elongated body extendingbetween a first end and second end; a scraping edge positioned on afirst side of said body, at or adjacent to said first end of said body;a cavity formed in said handle, said cavity configured for removableengagement of said scraper component therein to a stored position; saidscraping edge in said stored position positioned adjacent to, or incontact with, a mating surface formed on said handle; and said scrapingedge in said stored position prevented from a contact with a hand of auser gripping said elongated handle while operatively employing saidtoothbrush to clean teeth, whereby germs or bacteria on one of said handor said scraping edge are not communicable to the other of said hand orsaid scraping edge by a said contact.
 2. The dental hygiene apparatus ofclaim 1 additionally comprising: said cavity being an axial passageformed in said handle communicating with an aperture at said proximalend; said scraper body positionable to said stored position by aninsertion of said second end of said scraper body through said apertureand a sliding of said scraper body into said axial passage to saidstored position.
 3. The dental hygiene apparatus of claim 1 additionallycomprising: said cavity being an a recess formed into said first surfaceof said handle; and said scraper body positionable to said storedposition by an insertion of said first side of said body into saidrecess.
 4. The dental hygiene apparatus of claim 3 additionallycomprising: a rotational engagement between said proximal end of saidhandle and said second end of said scraper body; and said scraper bodypositionable between said stored position, and an as-used position forscraping said tongue by a rotation of said scraper body in a directionaway from said first surface of said handle.
 5. The dental hygieneapparatus of claim 4 additionally comprising: said scraper body having asecond side, opposite said first side; means for removable engagement ofsaid second side of said scraper body to said second surface of saidhandle; and said scraper body held in said as-used position, by saidremovable engagement, whereby said scraper body is rotatable betweensaid stored position and said as used position where it may be held in acontact with said handle by said removable engagement.
 6. The dentalhygiene apparatus of claim 2 additionally comprising: opposing sidesurface areas of said scraper body in said stored position beingcontactable by opposing fingers of a user's hand for a compressiveengagement; and said scraper body removable from and positionable tosaid stored engagement while in said compressive engagement.
 7. Thedental hygiene apparatus of claim 6 additionally comprising: saidopposing side surface areas located proximate to said first end of saidscraper body.
 8. The dental hygiene apparatus of claim 1 additionallycomprising: a recess formed in said scraper body immediately adjacent tosaid scraping edge, said recess providing a reservoir for storage ofmaterial scraped from said tongue of a user.
 9. The dental hygieneapparatus of claim 2 additionally comprising: a recess formed in saidscraper body immediately adjacent to said scraping edge, said recessproviding a reservoir for storage of material scraped from said tongueof a user.
 10. The dental hygiene apparatus of claim 3 additionallycomprising: a recess formed in said scraper body immediately adjacent tosaid scraping edge, said recess providing a reservoir for storage ofmaterial scraped from said tongue of a user.
 11. The dental hygieneapparatus of claim 4 additionally comprising: a recess formed in saidscraper body immediately adjacent to said scraping edge, said recessproviding a reservoir for storage of material scraped from said tongueof a user.
 12. The dental hygiene apparatus of claim 5 additionallycomprising: a recess formed in said scraper body immediately adjacent tosaid scraping edge, said recess providing a reservoir for storage ofmaterial scraped from said tongue of a user.
 13. The dental hygieneapparatus of claim 6 additionally comprising: a recess formed in saidscraper body immediately adjacent to said scraping edge, said recessproviding a reservoir for storage of material scraped from said tongueof a user.
 14. The dental hygiene apparatus of claim 7 additionallycomprising: a recess formed in said scraper body immediately adjacent tosaid scraping edge, said recess providing a reservoir for storage ofmaterial scraped from said tongue of a user.
 15. The dental hygieneapparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising: said scraper body formedof a flexible polymeric material; and flexation of said body providingmeans to prevent an injury from excess pressure of said scraper on saidtongue of a user.
 16. The dental hygiene apparatus of claim 2additionally comprising: said scraper body formed of a flexiblepolymeric material; and flexation of said body providing means toprevent an injury from excess pressure of said scraper on said tongue ofa user.
 17. The dental hygiene apparatus of claim 4 additionallycomprising: said scraper body formed of a flexible polymeric material;and flexation of said body providing means to prevent an injury fromexcess pressure of said scraper on said tongue of a user.
 18. The dentalhygiene apparatus of claim 12 additionally comprising: said scraper bodyformed of a flexible polymeric material; and flexation of said bodyproviding means to prevent an injury from excess pressure of saidscraper on said tongue of a user.
 19. The dental hygiene apparatus ofclaim 13 additionally comprising: said scraper body formed of a flexiblepolymeric material; and flexation of said body providing means toprevent an injury from excess pressure of said scraper on said tongue ofa user.
 20. The dental hygiene apparatus of claim 14 additionallycomprising: said scraper body formed of a flexible polymeric material;and flexation of said body providing means to prevent an injury fromexcess pressure of said scraper on said tongue of a user.